Alfajores (cookies with caramel)
- Cookies:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon dried lemon peel, rehydrated with 1 teaspoon of water
- Dulce de Leche
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 vanilla bean
Combine all cookie ingredients in a large bowl. Knead to form a soft, smooth dough - it will be fairly firm. Divide dough into 4 sections. Roll each section on a floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness. It is important that the dough is rolled fairly thin, as the cookies will rise during baking.
Using a 2 3/4 inch diameter cookie cutter, cut out the cookies. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes.
Combine all caramel ingredients in a heavy sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook with the lid on 3 hours, stirring occasionally. After 3 hours, cook another 30 minutes without the lid, until it is thick and spreadable when cooled slightly. Remove and discard the vanilla bean.
To make Alfajores, sandwich two cookies with 1-3 tablespoons of dulce de leche.